Where to find cheap used dorm room or apartment furnishings in Bloomington, Indiana
With Indiana University's fall semester officially starting later this month, many students are striking out on their own for the very first time. Whether they're furnishing a dorm room or first apartment, here are some treasure troves in Bloomington to add personal touches to make the new space feel more like home.
IU Surplus Store
IU Surplus is located at 3050 E. Discovery Parkway and is open weekdays from noon–5:30 p.m. The store can be reached at 812-855-2475.
The IU Surplus store is stocked with items from Indiana University that the administration has declared as surplus. The store sells a variety of goods including computer monitors, coffee makers, microwaves and lamps. For those looking to build their own office setup, the store has a wide range of chairs and desks. The store also has a few options for regular furniture, with a typically limited supply of cheaply priced couches, shelves and dressers. The store only accepts credit and debit cards for payment, and its inventory changes regularly alongside new shipments. For updates on coveted items as they first arrive, visit the store's Facebook page.
Garage Organizers' sale on Saturday
Garage Organizers' retail store is at 3470 W. Third St. while its furniture warehouse is at 3133 Westbury Village Dr. Unit 4. The store can be reached at 812-636-5906.
Shoppers can get great furniture at discounted prices through this local consignment shop. The Bloomington-based business, Garage Organizers, uses a personal team to organize and clean their clients' space, such as a garage or storage unit. These clients often consign unwanted items with Garage Organizers to be sold at their retail locations or online for other shoppers to purchase.
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While smaller items like pillows can be found at their primary retail shop, large furniture items are housed at a warehouse on Westbury Village Drive. The furniture selections range from practical — desks, dryers and dining tables — to unique, like a pinball machine. Currently, furniture must be purchase via Facebook Marketplace or at Garage Organizers' bi-weekly warehouse showcase from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on select Saturdays.
At the in-person sale, shoppers can browse the furniture selection where they can purchase an item for later delivery or take it home themselves that day. Garage Organizers is one place where the price is negotiable.
The next sale is this Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Habitat for Humanity's ReStore
Habitat for Humanity's ReStore is located at 850 S. Auto Mall Road and is open Tuesday through Friday from11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The store can be reached 812-331-2660.
Like the IU Surplus store, Bloomington's Habitat ReStore has a constantly rotating inventory of diverse items, which have been donated by members of the community. At this location, used furniture abounds in the form of recliners, night stands, bed frames and shelves. This month, dining chairs, artwork, mirrors, lighting and bed frames are 50% off their already discounted price. The ReStore uses a colored tagging system to easily show the discounted price of every item, and it frequently hosts promotions and sales each month.
All of the proceeds from the ReStore's sales go directly back into the community, covering building expenses of affordable houses for local families in need.
Citywide Junk in the Trunk held next Saturday
Bloomington's annual "Junk in the Trunk" will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20, between 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1611 S. Rogers St.
Throughout Junk in the Trunk, Switchyard Park's pavilion will feature several yard sale vendors selling furniture, books, dishware and other household goods. Shoppers are encouraged to come refreshed and replenished ― food and drinks are the only things guaranteed to not be sold at the sale. Free parking will be available in the parking lots at both Grimes Lane and Rogers Street.
Bloomington, Monroe County Facebook pages
In addition to the ever-popular Facebook Marketplace, many of this area's residents have taken to Facebook groups to advertise their used furniture. One of the most popular groups, Monroe County, IN - Buy/Sell/Trade, describes itself as an online yard sale, where buyers can peruse the best local deals without leaving their homes. The group is typically updated daily with posts from its members selling items such as mini-fridges, cabinets, futons and kitchen appliances. It is a private group, so one must be a Facebook user to access it. Another Facebook group, Monroe County Area Mutual Aid, is a space where people offer what they don't need and seekers can post about what they're looking for. This group is public, but one must have a Facebook account to publish posts.
There are two other popular groups — Monroe County, Indiana Buy, Sell or Trade and Monroe County Gifting Economy — that advertise similar offerings. These are private groups, and one has to request entry before they can look at the posts.
Typically, within these groups, once two people agree on a transaction, it is between the parties to decide how to deliver the item. If is a large, heavy-duty item, the seller often asks the buyer to pick it up themselves.
IU classifieds
The IU classifieds are where current students and alumni can sell directly to other IU community members. These offerings can take a little more hunting to find what you're after since its "inventory" relies on what the individual sellers have listed. Sought-after furniture, which typically has already been used in a dorm or starter apartment such as hardwood dressers and convection ovens, are sold at a fraction of their original price.
The classifieds are updated frequently with prices ― often with the caveat of "or best offer" ― listed for each item. On each post, the seller typically leaves their email or phone number. You must have an Indiana University email address to access the classifieds online portal.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Affordable furniture in Bloomington: Couches, lamps, chairs and more
